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Monday, March 28, 2011

Renovations to the On-Line Store

Today there are quite a few Facebook posts and an update on the Lululemon site about what is going on with the on line store. The GEC wrote today "New product will start returning to our site mid-Spring" but I know in the fourth quarter earnings call Christine Day said in her opening remarks: "...we re-launch our site at the end of the first quarter, ...Our new product deliveries are now weighted towards April, beginning the replenishment of our inventory position. ...Next, as previewed last year, we are transferring our E-commerce platform from our current third-party vendor to our in-house ATG platform. This is a complex project that requires significant IT infrastructure changes and integration of multiple service vendors to a new site. It also requires a physical move of inventory from the third-party supplier to our own U.S. DC. The date of the official transfer is April 15th. To facilitate the cutover from our vendor systems to ours, the entire site will be down for a few hours so we can test new site integration. This will occur during the evening hours of April 14 to early morning of the 15th. " So, I am really hoping the re-launch date is April 15th.

From Lululemon's website:

it's a black out
Beginning April 5th, only black products and limited styles will be available online while we move our distribution centre. This is only temporary. Colours will be back in plenty of time for summer.

They also say they hope the renovation will be completed next month so that fits in with Day's remarks to shareholders.

I'm going to be going through Lululemon withdrawl but my bank account will probably be happier. I believe the regular stores are going to get items but I'm starting to suspect quite a few of the "new" items are really older stock in core items. Stores have been getting "new" colors in CRBs such as Savage Green, Bold Blue, Faded Zap - all which have been released before. There are plenty of "angels", listed on the right side of the blog under Resources and people on the This Just In site who can pick items up for people who are not near a store.

12 comments:

Anonymous
said...

I'm in Arizona and if I order something on download Thursday the items arrive Saturday morning. From what I read, they are changing this and product will get shipped from canada? Which means longer waits? I hope I am assuming incorrectly :(

They will have their own U.S. DC as stated in the article. My guess, is that it might be in OH (Groveport-by Columbus) as that is where the DC for Gap and all of it's subsidiaries are (and Abercrombie, Victoria's Secret, the list goes on). It is centrally located and a major air, truck, and rail hub that has been handling imported goods from a number of diverse retailers for a long time.

The "new" IT director came directly from GAP, for whatever that's worth...

@ houndlvr - So they are going to move the CA distribution center, too? I am so spoiled by overnight delivery. I will either order less from the website or order from the website as a backup and then try to find it at a store. I hated ordering from the GEC since it took 5 days to get to me.

Just a guess...I know that the Columbus is quite the area for many of the major online retailers. Space is probably cheaper than in CA although there would be a lag as well as an extra cost to get all those ocean containers from the west coast to the mid-west via rail.

I think they are finding that their choice to switch vendors and go big with their website at the same time has been a bad one-no company would want to loose so much revenue right at the start of the summer buying season. The fact that the website is the way it is and will be for the coming weeks looks like the shit hitting the fan to me.

Lululemon is just about finished with their Spring items so by the time the website is up and running Summer will be rolling in, I sure hope it is colorful there were too many drab colors in the Spring line grey, white etc.

As someone who has worked in software and eCommerce for 15+ years....these projects are complex. The ATG platform is no small piece of technology. I would not be surprised to see the April 15th launch date push out a month. Unless they bonus their software developers to work around the clock.....

All I know is I'm sure thankful I found your blog, girl. I'd be Lulu-lost without it and super-frustrated. I stay updated through you and know what I should expect to see because of your posts- So, Thanks! It is very helpful. especially since I live in a state without a store and have to travel at least 5 hours to get to one.

About Me

For 18 years I was an electrical engineer working in communications satellite system engineering. I've worked at Boeing, Booz, Allen & Hamilton, and General Electric. For the past ten years I've been a stay at home mom who keeps busy volunteering in my community and chauffeuring my three children to their activities. I live in Orange County, California.

The inaugural Sea Wheeze inspired me to take up running two years ago. I have completed ten half marathons and have three more scheduled for 2015. I mostly run these days but also go to the gym ~3-4 days a week for spin class, weight lifting, and cardio.

I discovered Lululemon six years ago and really liked the fit and performance of the clothes. I do check out other brands so if you would like me to review your product please contact me.

If you would like to contact me, my email address is lululemonaddict@gmail.com.